Beijing, Feb. 9 -- Joint Euro 2012 hosts Poland and Ukraine on Sunday brushed aside concerns about their readiness for Europe's top football tournament, as the qualifying draw marked their first real-time test.

"It's three years since UEFA awarded the hosting of the 2012 European football championships to Poland and Ukraine," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

"These three years have been a period of hard work in both countries," Tusk told an audience of top officials from the continent's football governing body and its 53 national associations assembled for the draw.

"Euro 2012 infrastructure is being constructed, including stadia, airports, motorways and hotels," the ardent football fan and Sunday league player insisted.

In April 2007, UEFA raised eyebrows by choosing Poland and Ukraine over favorites Italy and joint bidders Hungary and Croatia to host the quadrennial, 16-team championships.

It will be the first time either has run a major tournament and marks UEFA's first big foray behind the former Iron Curtain.

"It's a real first for football," Platini said on the eve of the draw at Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science.

The 42-story venue was a fitting symbol of bridging old Cold War divisions. It sparks a love-hate reaction among locals because while it was a communist-era "gift" from Poland's Soviet overlord it became one of the main landmarks in the capital. It is now surrounded by cutting-edged skyscrapers built since the regime's fall in 1989 allowed the free market to flourish.

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